AuthorTomothy Berry

The pleasure received by the works of authors takes us to places our imaginations can run free and emotions tapped into that normal life may not present or will be one familiar to our senses and allow us to recall memories from the past that touched our lives.

2017 was wonderful for the creativity for those who put their thoughts together and create stories that have left us better for their efforts. Here is a list of the top 5 books from the year 2017, we hope you will enjoy them as much as we did.

1. Climate Change and the Health of Nations – Anthony McMichael
This book will inspire you to recall times when war, plagues and famine brought instability to our world and how so many of us fail to stop and pay attention to the changes around us climate-wise. Our day to day lives seem to tick by, and subtle changes to our climate generate reasoning, if even illogical, we all are guilty of looking the other way versus being inconvenienced and changing our destructive habits. The book focuses on climate change and how those changes have never been on the scale of today. Anthony McMichael looks at how society and the complexity of its size is impacting the stability of our environment – a book that will open your eyes and drive change.

2. American War – El Akkad
American War is a title that will grab the attention of the masses, especially under the current global conditions that seem only to worsen as the world’s population increases and supply and demand see’s new challenges. This book takes us to the 22nd century and into a time when America is in the midst of a second civil war. It chronicles the life of Benjamin Chestnut and his struggles with cancer and the story he wishes to tell about his aunt and the beginning of the war. It is a narrative that is both compelling and flawlessly told.

3. Lincoln in the Bardo – George Saunders
While many parts of this book are presented in the form of script, it is the first its author George Saunders. The book is set during 1862 and follows the death of Willie, Lincoln’s eleven-year-old son from the ravages of typhoid fever and how his son is unaware of his pending demise. The book discusses the feelings of uncertainty, which most will relate to and covers eyewitness accounts that clashed about the night of his passing.

4 .The Burning Girl – Claire Messud
A book that looks into the lives of tween-aged girls; it references pop-culture that has readers visiting a mental asylum and quarry that is haunted. A book for young adults, its fictional style goes into the connection and disconnect of young females. The novel is both enticing, impulsive and offers readers a look into its characters intense emotional intellect.

5. Solitude: A singular Life in a Crowed World – Michael Harris
The latest book from author Michael Harris, it takes you into the single life of its character in a world that is polluted with social pressures in a Rubicon generation and what has been lost socially as a result of the intense and constant barrage of social media and the constant connection to the internet. As you delve into the book, Harris recounts his attempts at being offline for a month and experiencing solitary after the realisation of he has yet to spend a single day alone in his life

In a story that is filled with emotions, of sadness and happiness, EverlarkCatoniss, a wattpad writer narrates the love story of Raine Winter and West Love. Raine is a victim of high school party terror. While in the ninth grade, she attended a party which turned out to be the worst nightmare of her life. Her brother’s best friend, Warren, who also happened to be Raine’s friend raped her! The incidence shocked her to an extent of rendering her mute. Will she ever get back her voice?

West Love is the town delinquent, famous for all the wrong reasons and his good looks. As a teenager, he is involved in a life-changing event that sends him to juvie. After West comes back to school, a love story between the two starts.

After the traumatizing event, Raine had to take sign language classes to enable her to communicate. Her brother, Toby, and best friends learn the language with her to make it easy for her. Other people around her understand her by reading her lips, which is rather tiring for Raine. When news came that the town delinquent will be joining her school, Raine has all wild thoughts about how he is like. Less did she know West will show interest in her.

When he finally reports to school, his interest in Raine is more than just to annoy her for being mute. He knows he has to find ways to make her fall for him and that includes flirtations and constant smirks. But how far is he willing to go to ensure he gets the girl? And once he does, how will Toby, who is very protective of her sister react?

As the relationship between Raine and West starts to grow, West is quick to make it clear that he is interested in more than just friendship. They spend a lot of time together but never for once has she ever asked him why he went to juvie. Raine is surprised to know that West is not as a bad person as everyone likes to think and deep down he is caring and very protective of his family. However, there is one question that rings on her mind, why was West sent to juvie? Will Raine get the courage to ask West and what will happen after she learns the truth?

Everlark portrays Raine as strong, brave, and every boy’s dream. West, on the other hand, despite the bad reputation is nice, kind, and loving. We can see many instances where he has protected Raine from Warren and is always there for her.

Although the book is amazing, it is a little biased. The first half of the book is full of slut-shaming to any girl who is not Raine’s friend. Toby and his friends are also known to sleep with almost all girls, whom they easily get due to their “hot” looks. However, the author only refers them as “players” while the girls they sleep with are sluts. However, the book has a very happy ending and it is hard not to fall in love with West!